We are seeking signatures from faith and spiritual leaders (of all traditions) as well as faith-based organizations. Lay leaders within their faith community are welcome to join, please include role/title.  

This letter will be distributed to all Senators and Representatives, with slight variations for those who have already spoken out in support of Wilmer.

Text of the letter:

Dear [Name],

As keepers of diverse faith and spiritual traditions, we urge you as Members of Congress to reach out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) directly and demand that they give a full and fair review to the release request of Wilmer Elias-Mendoza and re-evaluate the detention of all others in immigration detention who have been criminalized unfairly under the Trump Administration. Wilmer is a survivor - he was kidnapped and trafficked by drug cartels in Mexico. The same cartels that have targeted Central American migrants, tortured them, killed them, and buried them in shallow graves. He shared this traumatic experience openly in his asylum reasonable fear interview, which the Trump administration then used against him to deny him release. Wilmer recently renewed his request for parole, but to our shock the Biden administration has continued to deny the release of this disabled trafficking victim.

Mr. Elias-Mendoza, originally from Honduras, has been held in ICE detention for over two years - first at the infamous Farmville Detention Center and now at the Caroline detention facility in Virginia. Throughout his detention, WIlmer has not received adequate medical and mental health services. When he raised concerns about the harsh treatment he was receiving, he faced retaliation -- he was taken outside in the middle of the night, while it was snowing in an effort to interrogate and intimidate him. He has now been in solitary confinement for the past 2 weeks.  ICE has refused to give him access to his anxiety medication and other much needed care.

Wilmer's situation is emblematic of how the new Biden guidelines regarding immigration enforcement are not being properly applied to those who are already detained. For Wilmer, and for many migrants who have endured prolonged detention under the cruel Trump policies, nothing has changed. For frontline ICE officers it is business as usual.

We are pleased to know at least a dozen members of Congress have reached out to DHS HQ to inquire about Wilmer's release. It is appalling that despite the level of outreach that has been done on Wilmer's behalf, DHS HQ is yet to respond to the many inquiries by Congressional offices. We are concerned that despite the clear urgency, DHS HQ is not giving this case the proper attention it needs. We are however hopeful that with your help we can elevate this case to the proper officials at DHS HQ.

We, the undersigned faith leaders and faith-based organizations, call on your office to take immediate action to champion Wilmer's case with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Customs and Enforcement head-quarters in Washington D.C. We ask that you do everything in your power to ensure that DHS / ICE HQ commit to a full and fair review of his previously submitted release requests. Should DHS / ICE HQ deny Wilmer’s request for release yet again, we ask that you meet directly with the Secretary of DHS / Director of ICE and advocate on behalf of this disabled trafficking survivor.

Sincerely,

[the undersigned]